AIM The study of group psychotherapy influence on the personality functioning of patients on treatment for neurotic disorders and selected personality disorders (F4-F6 under ICD-10). METHODS The study concerned 82 patients (61 women and 21 men) who underwent intensive short-term group psychotherapy in a day ward. A comprehensive assessment of the patients' personality functioning was carried ...

BACKGROUND Patients with severe somatoform disorder (in secondary and tertiary care) typically experience functional impairment associated with physical symptoms and mental distress. Although psychotherapy is the preferred treatment, its effectiveness remains to be demonstrated. AIMS To examine the effectiveness of psychotherapy for severe somatoform disorder in secondary and tertiary care co...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the percentages of full remission in studies of patients with major depressive disorder in which pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and control conditions were directly compared. METHOD Computerized searches of the MEDLINE and PsychINFO databases up to November 2000 were used to identify six multiple-cell randomized, controlled, double-blind trials f...

Case reports indicate that psychiatrists administered ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) as a catalyst to psychotherapy before recreational use of MDMA as 'Ecstasy' resulted in its criminalization in 1985. Over two decades later, this study is the first completed clinical trial evaluating MDMA as a therapeutic adjunct. Twenty patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder, refractor...

Although there is an extensive literature on the placebo effect in psychotherapy, the distinction between the placebo and other elements of the therapeutic process has not been clear. This paper analyzes the therapeutic relationship in terms of separating the placebo elements and the specific actors. The so-called nonspecific elements, often equated with the placebo, are proposed as the specifi...

BACKGROUND Polarisation of biological and psychosocial aspects of psychiatry has promoted a form of Cartesian dualism. Current knowledge of the interaction between biology and psychology makes it possible to consider a truly integrative approach to treatment. AIMS The aim of this overview is to consider conceptual models of how psychotherapy may affect the brain. METHOD The literature discu...

OBJECTIVE Identification of pretreatment patient characteristics predictive of psychotherapy outcome could help to guide treatment choices. This study evaluates patients' initial level of immature defense style as a predictor of the outcome of short-term versus long-term psychotherapy. METHOD In the Helsinki Psychotherapy Study, 326 adult outpatients with mood or anxiety disorder were randomi...

The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ guidelines for psychotherapy training (Royal College of Psychiatrists 2008a) emphasise the need for psychiatric trainees to become better trained in the psychological therapies. Suggestions for training include supervised case experience in supportive psychotherapy. In considering the local arrangements for psycho therapy training, we became interested in how...

Sir, I wish to bring to the notice of our fellow professionals of a large and urgent need that has hitherto been either not recognised or not adequately and seriously thought about. As a member of the retired community of mental health professionals, I concede that this issue should have been or could have been addressed much earlier. But, I suppose, that there is perhaps a critical time for an...

Psychological well-being is vitally important for the quality of life elderly and only increasing in importance with rapidly population worldwide. Emerging problems include a deterioration physical function, loss friends or spouse, reduced social participation, economic ability. Hence, coping managing stress also increasing. This study proposed psychotherapy narration was designed to assist men...